A routine afternoon at a Lincoln Park dog salon turned into a nightmare Tuesday when a mobile grooming van was reported stolen with several dogs still inside, according to the business. Staff says an employee had briefly stepped away while loading animals, and when they came back, the vehicle was gone. Police were called immediately, and the salon quickly blasted alerts to customers and neighbors on social media while officers arrived at the scene.
As reported by WGN-TV, the salon identified itself as Markay's Castle of the Dogs and described the missing vehicle as a 2021 blue-and-black Transit. The theft happened on the 2200 block of North Clybourn Avenue while an employee was in the middle of loading dogs into the van, the outlet reports. Chicago police were on scene investigating, and the business asked anyone with information to come forward.
The case lands in the middle of a troubling pattern of pet-related and vehicle-targeted thefts across the North Side. Earlier this month, a Lincoln Park family reported that their dog was stolen and later reunited with its owners, according to ABC7 Chicago. In a separate but eerily similar episode, Block Club Chicago reported in 2021 that a Lakeview dog day care van was stolen with dogs aboard. Those animals were later found safe.
Possible charges and the law
Under Illinois criminal law, taking a vehicle can be prosecuted under the state's theft statutes and may be charged as a felony depending on the circumstances and value. The relevant statute is outlined in 720 ILCS 5/16-1. Separately, the Humane Care for Animals Act, 510 ILCS 70, sets duties for animal owners and prohibits cruel treatment, provisions that could come into play if investigators determine the dogs were endangered. A summary of that law is available from the Animal Legal & Historical Center.
How to help
The business has urged neighbors to review any doorbell or dash-cam footage from the time of the theft and to share potential leads with police, WGN-TV reports. Anyone who spotted the van or captured relevant video is asked to contact the Chicago Police Department or reach out through the salon's social media channels so officers can follow up.
